LAKE LINDEN -- The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) and a team of Michigan Tech University researchers have been working to locate and study environmental hazards left by 100 years of copper mining industries in the Torch Lake Area of Concern so they can be cleaned up where possible. Contaminants that cause an immediate threat to human health, such as PCBs (Polychlorinated Biphenyls) and mercury in fish tissues, are an important subject of two recent projects.

MDEQ Emergency Response and Removal: Abandoned Mining Wastes project

On Wednesday, May 13, Amy Keranen, Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) Remediation and Redevelopment Division project manager for the Abandoned Mining Wastes (including PCBs) project at Torch Lake, will host an Open House, free and open to the public, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School Auditorium. Staff from WESTON Solutions of Michigan will also be on hand to speak with the public and answer questions.

Last summer, the MDEQ began an investigation to identify and characterize mining wastes remaining along the shores of Torch Lake near Lake Linden-Hubbell. The MDEQ sampling crew who conducted on-land and in-lake investigative activities will display some of their equipment, pictures, maps and videos of their findings. The informal Open House will offer citizens the opportunity to drop in to meet the project team and to get their questions answered.

Keranen notes this work is separate from the projects conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Superfund program, which involved capping the exposed stamp sands/tailings and was to require property/resource use restrictions to prevent certain activities in select areas.* Keranen's present project has included evaluating the industrial processes that generated the wastes and various hazardous substances that remain in the area.

"This work is needed to address two concerns remaining after the completion of the EPA’s Superfund project," Keranen says. "The continued presence of PCBs in Torch Lake is preventing the recovery of the Torch Lake ecosystem and keeps it from being delisted as an Area of Concern under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement. In addition, other potential environmental and human health risks are present which require further evaluation and possible clean-up."

PCBs have been found in the basement of the Calumet and Hecla (C and H) Powerhouse, near the Calumet Stamp Mill site, C and H Smelter, and the coal dock area in Hubbell. PCBs are also in the water, fish and sediment of Torch Lake.

In addition to the presence of organic and inorganic contamination, found through the MDEQ's investigation of the C and H Lake Linden Operations Area, physical hazards such as metal and porcelain-like debris can be seen here at the Hubbell Beach near the old town dump. These wastes can be seen in the shallow water near the swimming area. (Photo courtesy Amy Keranen)

"In the Hubbell Processing Area, PCB contamination is present in debris, charred waste materials, waste piles, soil, and groundwater," Keranen reports. "These materials are subject to migration to Torch Lake via erosion channels on the ground surface that lead to holes in the former coal dock bulkhead. PCBs were also detected in groundwater suggesting the potential for movement of PCBs through the groundwater to the lake. Offshore sediment sampling confirmed that PCBs are present in Torch Lake sediment in front of the former smelter and coal dock."

This map shows Torch Lake and several sites of abandoned mine waste in the Lake Linden and Hubbell areas. (Map courtesy Weston Solutions of Michigan, Inc.)

Keranen adds the investigation is moving down the shoreline to include the C and H Tamarack City Operations Area. Her team has completed historic archival research, compiled and evaluated the previous studies and reports for the Tamarack City area, and conducted underwater mapping (via side-scan sonar) to develop a soil sampling plan beginning this week.

"Studies in the lake will start in late May," Keranen says. "The work will continue in a phased manner, allowing us time to look at preliminary data and get back out to fill in any data gaps later in the summer."

Carol MacLennan, Michigan Tech professor in Social Sciences, has worked with MDEQ on the Abandoned Mining Wastes Project, Keranen said.

"She conducted historic research regarding the industries in the Lake Linden-Hubbell, the Tamarack City and the Mason areas," Keranen noted. "We used Carol's research to confirm where our samples should be -- targeting areas of waste streams and disposal areas."

On September 25, 2014, MacLennan gave a presentation on "Creating the
Torch Lake Industrial District and Its Environment" for the Fourth
Thursday in History Series, sponsored by Keweenaw National Historical
Park.

Using historic photos, MacLennan pointed out how the Torch Lake shoreline between Lake Linden and Mason was once the largest industrial site in the Keweenaw copper district. An enormous powerhouse, eight stamp mills, a smelter, and three reclamation plants lined the Torch Lake shoreline, and the lake bustled with ships delivering coal and taking copper to market. She demonstrated how processing mined rock, reclaiming copper-rich stamp sands from the lake and from scrap metals, and experimenting with new copper oxide products consumed the attention of the Calumet and Hecla and Quincy mining companies in their later years.

"History is a critical tool for figuring out mine waste pollution," MacLennan said. "Without our investigation into Torch Lake, we would not be able to untangle the PCB problem there."

MacLennan's research has helped to identify sites of hazardous mining waste, including PCBs. Here are some video clips from her presentation:

Carol MacLennan, Michigan Tech University professor of anthropology, speaks about her historical research for the Michigan Sea Grant Torch Lake Integrated Assessment project on Sept. 25, 2014, at Lake Linden-Hubbell High School. The presentation was hosted by Keweenaw National Historical Park. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Here Carol MacLennan shows photos of some of the buildings and equipment used in reclamation of copper from the stamp sands as well as the facilities for regrinding, leaching and refining it -- processes that left pollutants in the environment.

Carol MacLennan speaks here about the electrification that led to PCB contamination in and around Torch Lake.

This chart from Carol MacLennan's presentation shows the waste products and contaminants left from several industrial facilities near Torch Lake.**

Potential health hazards from exposure to PCBs include cancer, neurological disorders, skin lesions and liver problems. Additionally, PCBs can be passed from mothers to children during pregnancy and
through breast feeding. Children are more vulnerable to the effects of PCBs than adults.**

During the question-answer period following her presentation, Mac Lennan pointed out that the Torch Lake Area of Concern is larger than just Torch Lake.***

"We still have a long way to go with delisting it as an Area of Concern," she said.

MacLennan has also done historical research on the Torch Lake Area of Concern through the Michigan Sea Grant project titled Torch Lake Integrated Assessment. On this project she worked with two other Michigan Tech professors and student researchers, again helping identify the sources of contaminants through her study of industrial sites in the area.

Michigan Sea Grant Project: Torch Lake Integrated Assessment

In 2012 MacLennan, along with Noel Urban and Judith Perlinger, Michigan Tech professors in Civil and Environmental Engineering, received funding from the Michigan Sea Grant (federal funding through the State of Michigan) to study the environmental and historical effects of the intensive copper mining that took place on the Keweenaw Peninsula from 1845 to 1968. Their project is titled the Torch Lake Integrated Assessment.

"The purpose of this project is to assemble all the existing information regarding problems in Torch Lake," Urban explains. "The most important part was the information on PCBs. As a result of our findings we convinced the DEQ, the EPA and the PAC (Torch Lake Public Advisory Council) that there is ongoing contamination from PCBs."

Urban and Perlinger found data indicating that concentrations of PCBs in Torch Lake sediments, water and fish were much higher than those in nearby waterways. The highest concentrations -- hot spots -- are near the western shore of Torch Lake, where industrial activity was intense.

While swimming and boating in Torch Lake are considered safe, humans can be exposed to harmful effects of PCBs from eating fish with high levels of PCBs in their fatty tissues and from contact with contaminated soils. The local municipal drinking water, which comes from groundwater wells, is not contaminated with PCBs.

On July 4, 2014, Professor Noel Urban took groups of visitors on a boat ride aboard Michigan Tech's research vessel, the Agassiz, and explained various aspects of the pollution in the sediments and the fish of Torch Lake. Passengers were invited to ask questions during the sessions. Here are some video clips from one of his presentations:

On Michigan Tech's research vessel Agassiz, Noel Urban, Michigan Tech professor of environmental engineering, speaks about the stamp sands in Torch Lake during a community education event in Lake Linden, Mich., on July 4, 2014. (Videos by Keweenaw Now)

Urban estimates it will take 800 years for the sediments at the bottom of Torch Lake to recover naturally:

Michigan Tech Professor Noel Urban explains why nothing can grow on the bottom of Torch Lake, where sediments are still contaminated with stamp sand from industrial reclamation of copper in the area. He is speaking on July 4, 2014, during an educational boat ride on Michigan Tech's Agassiz research boat.

Aboard the Agassiz research boat on July 4, 2014, Michigan Tech Professor Noel Urban explains how electrical transformers contained PCBs that contaminated the soil and how fish in Torch Lake are contaminated with both PCBs and mercury. He points out that Amy Keranen of MDEQ is working to locate the PCBs so they can be cleaned up.

Michigan Tech Professor Noel Urban answers questions about contamination of Torch Lake from copper mining and reclamation. Here he discusses contaminants in the sediment and the fish. Agassiz Captain Steve Roblee asks about the safety of well water.

As Noel Urban noted in his presentation, fish consumption advisories prohibit eating certain fish from Torch Lake because of mercury and PCBs that bioaccumulate in fish tissues.

The Michigan Department of Community Health (now known as the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services) is working on the problem of Torch Lake's contaminated fish and has issued fish consumption advisories for Walley, Northern Pike and Smallmouth Bass. Michigan's Health Department toxicologists are also working on evaluations of risk from toxic contaminants around Torch Lake.****

Notes:

* The EPA has defined the Superfund Site as the upper six inches of stamp sand and slag in certain areas of Houghton County and any soil cap and vegetative cover applied to these areas. It has also included a "no-action" remedy for lake sediments. The Superfund program continues to monitor this remedy.

** Click hereto learn more about the PCBs in and around Torch Lake and potential health hazards they pose to humans. Click here for more details on toxic metals in and around Torch Lake. Learn which government agencies and community groups are working on Torch Lake issues in the Michigan Sea Grant publication, "Who Is Doing What at Torch Lake?"

Keweenaw March for Our Lives is Saturday, March 24

Logo courtesy marchforourlives.com

At noon on Saturday, March 24, a Keweenaw March for Our Lives will be held on the Portage Lift Bridge to show support for changing gun laws to protect our students and schools. This event is taking place in solidarity with the March for Our Lives planned for the same day in Washington DC. Prior to the March, participants will gather below the Bridge on the west side near the old Aspirus building next to Roy's bakery. Marchers are welcome to bring signs. For more information contract Erin Burkett (248-514-9759, erinmburkett@ gmail.com) or visit fb.me/ KeweenawMarchforOurLives. March For Our Lives is created, inspired, and led by students across the country who are acting to stop the epidemic of school shootings -- the third leading cause of death for American children. Students, teachers, families, and allies are marching across the nation to demand better gun regulations. An average of 23 children are shot every day. For more information visit marchforourlives.com.

An Informational Meeting and Poster-Making Session will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. this Saturday, March 17, at the Portage Lake District Library in Houghton. Some poster-making materials will be provided, but feel free to bring your own supplies to use and share. Come meet your fellow marchers and create your own unique sign to carry during the march! Information about march-day logistics will be shared by the event organizers. This is an open event. Stop by anytime between 3:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Hosted by Keweenaw March for Our Lives.

Contra Dances in Hancock

International School of Art and Design Alumni Exhibit 2018 opens at Finlandia University Gallery

Josh Jaehnig, Birds of a Feather, 2018, Watercolor and ink.

The Finlandia University Gallery will host Finlandia's International School of Art and Design Alumni Exhibit 2018 from Feb. 22 - March 20. The Alumni 2018 exhibit spotlights the current work of 25 Finlandia BFA graduates. The Gallery is located in the Finnish American Heritage Center in Hancock. Click here for details.

Featured Post

This photo taken in the winter of 2017 shows Gypsy Creek downstream, east of one of Copperwood Resources' 2017 drill sites inside Porc...

+News Briefs / Announcements

The Sustaining Lake Superior Book Talk by Nancy Langston -- originally scheduled for Tuesday, March 6, at Portage Lake District Library -- has been cancelled because of a death in the family. It will be re-scheduled for later this spring.......The Portage Lake District Library invites children and their families to meet Harley, Ruby and Hope as the library begins a new program for children who are learning how to read. Beginning Wednesday, March 7, three gentle dogs will be available every Wednesday from 4 p.m. - 5 p.m. for kids to read out loud to. The dogs are trained and registered with Therapy Dogs International and with SuperiorLand Pet Partners. Children can gain confidence and build reading skills by reading at their own pace to a very loving, non-judgmental, and attentive listener. Children may bring a book from home or school or choose one from the library that they want to read to one of the dogs. There will be books to read and coloring pages for kids to use while they wait for their turn to read to a dog. This program will take place every Wednesday through May. The summer and fall schedules will be announced at a later date. Library events are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit pldl.org.......The Hancock Board of Review will meet at Hancock City Hall on the following dates/times:March 13, 2 p.m. - 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. March 15, 9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m. - 4 p.m. If you have any questions prior to Board of Review, please contact Assessor Laura Erhart at Erhart Assessing: Phone:906-358-0504 or Email: assessor@cityofhancock.net......Portage Library and Michigan Tech are again offering free computer and digital device assistance for beginners. Building Adult Skills in Computers (BASIC) will be presented by Michigan Tech Computer Science students at 9 a.m. every Saturday this Spring semester except during MTU breaks and holidays. Students will show participants how to use the internet to keep in touch with people, share pictures and letters, find information, solve computer problems, and much more. Tutors will help each participant with his or her own particular needs. People may attend as many of the sessions as they wish. Bring your own laptop or other digital device or feel free to use library computers. Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570 or visit the library at www.pldl.org and on Facebook. .....The Superior AmeriCorps Book Club for Kids will continue throughout the school year from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on the first Saturday of each month at Portage Lake District Library. Kids ages 3 through 9 are invited for stories, cookie decorating, crafts, games, and more. Library programs are free and everyone is welcome. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......Portage Lake District Library Storytimes are at 10:15 a.m. every Wednesday and Thursday. The Library also invites children and their families to participate in Storytimes from 11 a.m. to noon on the second and fourth Saturday of each month throughout the school year. These programs are presented by members of the Houghton High School Key Club. Storytime includes listening to stories and making a craft. Everyone is welcome and all programs are free. For more information, please call the library at 482-4570.......HEET (Houghton Energy Efficiency Team)has posted videos on renewable energy in the Upper Peninsula. Check out their Energy Forum here.......Do you participate in a book group? The Portage Lake District Library is creating a list of local book groups for all ages and would like to hear about yours. Useful information includes the name of your group and contact person, a theme if you have one, and dates and time that you meet. Please also say if your book group is for adults, teens, or grade school students. For more information, please call Chris at the library at 482-4570.

Dance Zone Marquette

Click on logo above for the schedule of dance events and lessons at Dance Zone.

Kids, parents enjoy 2018 Barneløpet ski race at Maasto Hiihto

Skiers of all ages take off for the 11th annual non-competitive Barneløpet ski race on Feb. 11. (Photo courtesy Arlyn Aronson)

Kids and parents braved a chilly, windy Sunday, Feb.11, for the 11th annual Barneløpet children's ski race at Maasto Hiihto -- hosted by the Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club, Sons of Norway, and the City of Hancock and sponsored by Portage Health Auxiliary. Click on photo above for more photos of the event taken by Maasto groomer Arlyn Aronson.

Keweenaw Nordic Ski Club

HKCD 2018 Tree Sale is May 5

Pre-order pre-pay only for orders over $200. Everything else is on May 5, first come - first served. Click on poster for larger version. (Poster courtesy Houghton Keweenaw Conservation District)

The tree sale catalog is now available HERE. For more info click on above poster or email sueh6681@gmail.com or call Sue at 906-482-0214.

Slide Show: Sister March: Jan. 21, 2018

Click on above photo to access our new slide show of the Sister March. Click on this lead bridge photo in the slide show. Click info icons for captions. Follow arrows to the right to follow the march.

Slide Show: Art, Culture, Oct.-Nov. 2017

From arts and crafts to film and dance, Keweenaw Now's SLIDE SHOW: Art, Culture Oct. - Nov. 2017 presents photo highlights of art and cultural events we attended in the Copper Country during the fall of 2017. Click on the above photo of Ginger and Mike at the opening of their SewCranky shop in Hancock and follow the right arrows to see all the photos. Info icon gives you the captions.

New book by Nancy Langston

New book by Cyndi Perkins

New Novel by Kristin Neva

"Copper Country" is the second novel in Kristin Neva's Copper Island Series. Click on book cover to go to the Amazon.com page for the book. (Book cover courtesy Kristin Neva)

Copper Country, by Keweenaw author Kristin Neva, is the second novel in her Copper Island Series, following Snow Country (see ad below). Two main characters, Aimee and Russ, appear in both novels. Neva continues to describe life in the Keweenaw, including the influence of Finnish names and culture. Click on book cover image above to learn more or purchase the book on Amazon.com.

"Snow Country" -- A Copper Island Novel

Set on the Keweenaw Peninsula, this inspirational novel features contemporary Finnish-American and Yooper culture while exploring themes of love, loss and faith.

Mining Action Group (formerly Save the Wild UP)

The Mining Action Group -- previously known as Save the Wild U.P. and now part of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition (UPEC) -- is a volunteer, grassroots effort to defend the clean water and wild places of Michigan’s Upper Peninsula from the dangers of sulfide mining.

Friends of the Land of Keweenaw

Portage Lake District Library

Click on logo above for a link to the Portage Library's new Winter 2018 newsletter and click on Events for the current calendar.

Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts

Finlandia University

Yellow Dog Watershed Preserve

Chauncey Moran, Yellow Dog RIVERKEEPER, recently conducted an aerial survey of the Salmon Trout and Yellow Dog River watersheds, scanning the landscape and waterways for mining activity and other land use issues. Both watersheds were surveyed via airplane and Moran reports that there are 7 total exploratory drilling operations that are currently active. All 7 of those are occurring directly east of Eagle Mine within a relatively short distance of the portal. This location has been called Eagle East and represents a plausible location for additional mineral deposits. No other active drilling elsewhere in the watersheds was noted during the flight. YDWP will continue to fly and conduct monitoring of this activity in order to inform concerned community members. Click on logo above for more news.

Midnight in the Pawn Shop

Deborah Frontiera, author of "Living on Sisu," has recently published this short novel for mature readers. Click on book cover above for more info. (Photo courtesy Deborah Frontiera)

Offer from Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society

Book cover designed by Avis L. West of Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society. Photograph courtesy Michigan Technological University Archives.

This publication by the Houghton Keweenaw County Genealogical Society (HKCGS) can be yours for free with a minimum $50 donation to the Italian Hall Memorial Fund. The book tells about the families of Italian Hall victims and includes historic photos. If you wish to donate and receive a copy of the book, please click on book cover above for the HKCGS order form, complete the form, print it and mail it to the address on the form. See story about the memorial and other ways to donate here.

Waste Management Garbage and Recycling new schedule for Hancockstarted on Sept. 12, 2016.- All items need to be out by 7 a.m.-Weekly same day pick up for garbage and recycling (using a new dual garbage truck)-Pick Up Day Change affects some neighborhoods:-East of Elevation Street will be on Monday.-West of Elevation Street will be on Wednesday.*Pick up for residents living on Elevation, S. Elevation and N. Elevation Streets will be on WEDNESDAY.-Any container will work for recycling. Some people are painting or taping (recycling) on the bins they now use or you can purchase a new recycling bin from McGann’s or Risto’s.-Single stream will continue for all items including glass and clean pizza boxes!-Service is also available to small commercial.-The City still has a recycling drop off at the DPW Garage (1601 Tomasi Drive)QUESTIONS: Call Bill Marlor, DPW, 482-1480 or Glenn Anderson, City Manager, 482-1121.Click here for Waste Management's new list of acceptable and unacceptable items for recycling.Thank you for your participation.

Copyright Policy

For our copyright policy, please click here or email us if you wish to use any of the photos or video clips by Keweenaw Now. Photos by guest photographers are copyrighted and you must seek their permission for re-use. This policy applies to the photos in our slide shows as well. Please do not share photos taken by guest photographers without their permission.

Slide Show: Christmas in Calumet 2016

Click on the photo above to see our slide show of Calumet on Dec. 3: the Poor Artists Sale, Santa, and art gallery exhibits. Click on any photo and follow the arrows. To read captions, click on the info icon.

Slide Shows: Family fun with science, more ...

Our recent slide shows highlight the Keweenaw Science and Engineering Festival (KSEF) and Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC) community events held Aug. 4 - 6, 2016; the 2016 Keweenaw Science Fair winners honored by Carnegie Museum; and the Lake Superior Celebration at GLRC in April 2016.

The new slide shows can be accessed as follows: Click here or on the photo above for the slide show of the Aug. 5, 2016, Keweenaw Water Festival at Michigan Tech's Great Lakes Research Center (GLRC). Click here for the Aug. 4 and Aug. 6 Keweenaw Science and Engineering (KSEF) family events held in Houghton's Kestner Waterfront Park, and click here for photos of some 2016 Science Fair winners and highlights of the April 26, 2016, Lake Superior Celebration sponsored by the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, Michigan STEM Partnership, the Copper Country Recycling Initiative and more. For each slide show, click on the first photo in the album and click the info icon in the top right corner for the caption. Then click on forward arrows to view the photos as a slide show.

Eagle Rock, 2010: Slide show

In May 2010, concerned Native and non-Native citizens camped, prayed and planted a garden at Eagle Rock, an Ojibwa sacred site, which was blasted for the portal to the Rio-Tinto-Kennecott Eagle Mine. The mine, now in operation, was sold to Lundin Mining Corporation of Toronto. Click on photo above to access a photo album on Eagle Rock protests in May 2010. Click on the first photo in the album and then on the info icon to view captions if they are not visible on the right. To view the photos as a slide show, click on the forward arrows.

Keweenaw Now is on TWITTER. Scroll down this column to see our latest Tweets.

Houghton County Democratic Party

Peaceful Uprising

Save the Water's Edge

A Rascal's Craft

The poetic musings of Eelu Kiviranta, a Finnish immigrant and self-proclaimed rascal. Side-by-side Finnish with English translation by Lillian Lehto. Introduction by Steve Lehto. Includes "The Copper Country Strike of 1913." Available from Amazon or the translator, 1419 Yosemite, Birmingham, MI 48009, $19.95. Click on cover to see Youtube video.

Distant Drum

Original clothing and wall pieces custom designed and sewn by Andrea Puzakulich in the Keweenaw for 25 years. Distant Drum is located in Hancock's Historic E.L.Wright Bldg. Open most weekday afternoons. Call ahead.

Calumet Art Center

Click above to learn about new classes starting in February 2017.

New edition of book by Steve Lehto

Click on book cover to access Steve's Facebook page on the Italian Hall disaster.

Red Circle Consulting

Mike Lahti at State Farm

Copper Country Community Arts Center

Keweenaw BEST!

Michigan League of Conservation Voters

What Is Sustainable

Author Richard Adrian Reese recounts how his life took a new direction after 9 years of simple living in the Keweenaw -- and offers a new worldview for a sustainable future.

Sustainable Keweenaw Resource Center

Welcome to Keweenaw Now!

Welcome to our Keweenaw Now blog. This site, the sequel to the Web site www.keweenawnow.com, officially began on September 1, 2007. The Blogger format allows you, our readers, to comment on any post. Read our articles here and send us your comments and suggestions! Your comment will come to us on email (without showing your email address) and as long as it's not objectionable we will post it on the article page. Please note: Right now the comments do not appear on the home page; but, if you click on the headline of an article, it will go to the article's own (archive) page, where comments do appear and where you can reply to them. Click on the comment link below the article to send us a comment. Sometimes the number of comments is indicated on that link on the home page. It may take some time for it to appear.

In addition, Keweenaw Now offers editing -- including editing of scholarly papers in various fields -- and some translation services. We can also help you write or edit the text on your Web site.

Iraq death count

Weather

More stories in our Archives ...

If you missed one of our previous articles, you can find all of them archived through links in the right-hand column. Click on the week you missed, and the headlines of articles for that week will appear as links you can click on to read the story on its own page.